A major preservation battle is underway in the Victorian regional city of Ballarat. The Civic Hall, constructed in 1953 to a design by prominent local architect Les Coburn and Melbourne architect Gordon Murphy, is significant as the first steel-framed and reinforced concrete building constructed in Victoria, outside of Melbourne. Now it is under threat from its owners, the City council, who …

In the Summer 2010 edition of Spirit of Progress we featured an article by Marcus Beresford about a modernism nurses home built in the early 1950s at Glenside Mental Hospital in Adelaide and the efforts to preserve the building. Eastwood Lodge was provisionally state heritage listed, but the listing was then rescinded after pressure was applied to the State government, …

The concrete lookout tower at the top of Arthur’s Seat on the Mornington Peninsula was a feature of the precinct since constructed by the Shire of Flinders (to a design by the Shire Engineer GW Brown) to commemorate the Victorian Centenary of 1934. Unfortunately the tower we recently demolished by Parks Victoria to make way for a new station for …

In the last issue we reported on possible problems with the future of the iconic 1936 Astor Theatre in St Kilda. Numerous rumours were circulating about it possibly being sold by St Michael’s Grammar School, perhaps to a ‘white knight’. This turned out to be correct. In August 2012, St Kilda businessman Ralph Taranto bought the Astor for an undisclosed …

Following the notification that the former Melford Motors (Harry Norris, 1936) building on the corner of Elizabeth and Queensberry Streets, Melbourne was recommended for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register, the current owners (Toyota Australia) have opposed the listing and will now present its case at a hearing in November.

A major preservation battle has broken out over the future of the iconic Astor Theatre in St Kilda. Constructed in 1936, the theatre (with its neon spangled facade) is famous for its double-bill cult and arthouse classics and is Melbourne’s last operational single screen cinema. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and is not threatened with demolition. The …

In the last edition of Spirit of Progress, we informed members that ADMS made a submission for this classic motor showroom, designed for the Ford Company in 1936 by Harry Norris to be included on the Victoria Heritage Register. ADMS has just been informed that the building has been recommended for inclusion in the Register. The owners have 60 days …

ADMS has engaged Simon Reeve, of Built Heritage Pty Ltd, to prepare a submission to the Victorian Heritage Register for the former Melford Motors building on the corner of Elizabeth and Queensberry Streets, Melbourne. Designed for the Ford Company in 1936 by Harry Norris, the showroom is located on a prominent corner site, and features large curved glass windows wrapping …

The bathing pavilion at Long Beach in Hobart has been added to tthe Tasmanian Heritage Register. It was designed in 1962 in the Hobart suburb of Sandy Bay by prominent Tasmanian architect, Dirk Bolt, who designed many mid-20th century buildings in Hobart, including the 10 Murray Street Governement Office tower block that is approved for demolition.